Brandon Lester Takes Command At Grand Lake Bassmaster Elite

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Brandon Lester of Fayetteville, Tenn., takes the lead on the second day of the 2018 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Elite at Grand Lake out of Grove, Okla., with a two-day total weight of 43 pounds, 9 ounces.

Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.

April 27, 2018

Brandon Lester Takes Command At Grand Lake Bassmaster Elite

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GROVE, Okla. — Brandon Lester of Fayetteville, Tenn., is no stranger to pressure. Just over a month ago, he and his wife Kimberly welcomed a new baby girl to their family.

Today he weighed the largest limit of his fishing career — a staggering 26-pound, 3-ounce limit of five bass that pushed his two-day total to 43-9 and took the lead at the 2018 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Elite at Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees.

With $100,000 on the line for first place, the 30-year-old pro was calm and collected after walking off of the official Bassmaster weigh-in stage — not a common look among anglers who just took the lead over the world’s top-bass anglers.

“There’s a lot of fishing to be had still, and I’m not getting ahead of myself,” Lester said. “However, I like what’s happening to my fishing area, and I’m feeling pretty good about things.”

Based on the calendar, Lester believes the spawn is behind schedule on the Oklahoma lake. That is, it’s happening right now.

“These bass are moving in to spawn in impressive numbers,” he said. “This time of year, the fish are very susceptible to being caught, but they can also be spooky. Some anglers are sight fishing, but I’m covering water slowly and methodically.

“I had my fish early enough in the day that I decided to go look for more productive water as a backup plan. I like what I’ve got going on, and I also like what I found this afternoon.”

The current weather trend is indicating more sun and increasing temperatures, which should only improve the fishing across the lake.

“The spawn is happening right now, and I feel like my areas are reloading with fresh fish by the day,” Lester said.

Another angler who is comfortable atop the Bassmaster leaderboard is four-time Bassmaster Classic champion Kevin VanDam from Kalamazoo, Mich.

VanDam began his day in fourth place, but dominated the field according to unofficial weights listed on BASSTrakk, available at Bassmaster.com.

After bringing 20-10 to the scales, VanDam’s two-day total weight is 42-9, placing the seven-time Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year in second place.

“I covered quite a bit of water today looking for the right bites,” he said. “I had a very productive morning, so that afforded me some time to scout new areas for upcoming days of the tournament.”

Having backup areas an angler can rely upon if his primary pattern falls apart is critical to fishing — and especially winning — a four-day tournament.

“The extra practice time I had today was productive. Most of what I found was a bust, but I did learn a few things that will help with my game plan going into tomorrow.”

VanDam believes some heavy limits of bass will be brought to weigh-in over the next two days.

The 108-angler field was cut to the Top 50 for Saturday’s semi-final round of competition.

“The reduced number of boats on the water will eliminate a lot of fishing pressure occurring on Grand Lake right now,” VanDam said. “I think the fans are in for a treat by the time this thing wraps up on Sunday. We are fishing this lake during one of the best weeks of the year.”

Rounding out the Top 5 are Jacob Wheeler with 39-3, Cliff Crochet with 38-15 and Cliff Pace with 38-13.

Alabama’s Bill Weidler is currently leading the $1,500 Phoenix Boats Big Bass Award, thanks to a heavy 7-3 largemouth bass he caught during Thursday’s opening round of competition.

Daily takeoffs will occur Saturday and Sunday at 6:15 a.m. CT out of Wolf Creek Park, and weigh-ins are scheduled in the same location beginning at 3 p.m.

2018 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Elite at Grand Lake 4/26-4/29
Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, Grove  OK.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2

Angler                   Hometown              No./lbs-oz  Pts   Total $$$

1.  Brandon Lester         Fayetteville, TN        10  43-09  110
Day 1: 5   17-06     Day 2: 5   26-03
2.  Kevin VanDam           Kalamazoo, MI           10  42-09  109
Day 1: 5   21-15     Day 2: 5   20-10
3.  Jacob Wheeler          Harrison, TN            10  39-03  108
Day 1: 5   16-10     Day 2: 5   22-09
4.  Cliff Crochet          Pierre Part, LA         10  38-15  107
Day 1: 5   19-11     Day 2: 5   19-04
5.  Cliff Pace             Petal, MS               10  38-13  106
Day 1: 5   21-04     Day 2: 5   17-09
6.  Jordan Lee             Grant, AL               10  38-11  105
Day 1: 5   20-04     Day 2: 5   18-07
7.  Bradley Roy            Lancaster, KY           10  38-05  104
Day 1: 5   18-12     Day 2: 5   19-09
8.  Dave Lefebre           Erie, PA                10  38-03  103
Day 1: 5   14-02     Day 2: 5   24-01
9.  Greg Vinson            Wetumpka, AL            10  37-10  102
Day 1: 5   19-13     Day 2: 5   17-13
10. Seth Feider            Bloomington, MN         10  37-02  101
Day 1: 5   18-07     Day 2: 5   18-11
11. Roy Hawk               Lk Havasu Cty, AZ       10  36-13  100
Day 1: 5   16-15     Day 2: 5   19-14
12. James Elam             Tulsa, OK               10  36-10   99
Day 1: 5   19-13     Day 2: 5   16-13
13. Randall Tharp          Port St. Joe, FL        10  36-10   98
Day 1: 5   18-05     Day 2: 5   18-05
14. Brett Hite             Phoenix, AZ             10  36-02   97
Day 1: 5   14-03     Day 2: 5   21-15
15. Brock Mosley           Collinsville, MS        10  36-00   96
Day 1: 5   23-05     Day 2: 5   12-11
16. Paul Mueller           Naugatuck, CT           10  36-00   95
Day 1: 5   19-03     Day 2: 5   16-13
17. Gerald Swindle         Guntersville, AL        10  35-05   94
Day 1: 5   21-08     Day 2: 5   13-13
18. Bill Weidler           Helena, AL              10  35-04   93
Day 1: 5   19-12     Day 2: 5   15-08
19. Brent Ehrler           Redlands, CA            10  35-02   92
Day 1: 5   21-08     Day 2: 5   13-10
20. Tommy Biffle           Wagoner, OK             10  35-02   91
Day 1: 5   16-09     Day 2: 5   18-09
21. Fred Roumbanis         Russellville, AR        10  34-12   90
Day 1: 5   18-09     Day 2: 5   16-03
22. Clifford Pirch         Payson, AZ              10  34-11   89
Day 1: 5   17-01     Day 2: 5   17-10
23. Justin Lucas           Guntersville, AL        10  34-09   88
Day 1: 5   17-12     Day 2: 5   16-13
24. Jesse Wiggins          Cullman, AL             10  34-08   87
Day 1: 5   13-12     Day 2: 5   20-12
25. Caleb Sumrall          New Iberia, LA          10  34-06   86
Day 1: 5   16-10     Day 2: 5   17-12
26. Kyle Monti             Okeechobee, FL          10  34-05   85
Day 1: 5   22-06     Day 2: 5   11-15
27. Stetson Blaylock       Benton, AR              10  34-05   84
Day 1: 5   21-00     Day 2: 5   13-05
28. Hank Cherry Jr         Lincolnton, NC          10  34-03   83
Day 1: 5   15-14     Day 2: 5   18-05
29. Alton Jones Jr.        Waco, TX                10  34-02   82
Day 1: 5   15-12     Day 2: 5   18-06
30. Brian Snowden          Reeds Spring, MO        10  34-02   81
Day 1: 5   16-11     Day 2: 5   17-07
31. Keith Poche            Pike Road, AL           10  34-01   80
Day 1: 5   17-09     Day 2: 5   16-08
32. Brent Chapman          Lake Quivira, KS        10  33-10   79
Day 1: 5   14-11     Day 2: 5   18-15
33. Scott Rook             Little Rock, AR         10  33-07   78
Day 1: 5   17-09     Day 2: 5   15-14
34. Dean Rojas             Lake Havasu City, AZ    10  33-05   77
Day 1: 5   13-09     Day 2: 5   19-12
35. Randy Howell           Guntersville, AL        10  33-01   76
Day 1: 5   17-02     Day 2: 5   15-15
36. Jared Lintner          Arroyo Grande, CA       10  32-09   75
Day 1: 5   18-05     Day 2: 5   14-04
37. Ish Monroe             Hughson, CA             10  32-09   74
Day 1: 5   17-04     Day 2: 5   15-05
38. Josh Bertrand          San Tan Valley, AZ      10  32-08   73
Day 1: 5   19-15     Day 2: 5   12-09
39. Adrian Avena           Vineland, NJ            10  32-05   72
Day 1: 5   17-05     Day 2: 5   15-00
40. Aaron Martens          Leeds, AL               10  32-00   71
Day 1: 5   16-12     Day 2: 5   15-04
41. Jamie Hartman          Newport, NY             10  31-11   70
Day 1: 5   17-06     Day 2: 5   14-05
42. Stephen Browning       Hot Springs, AR         10  31-10   69
Day 1: 5   20-08     Day 2: 5   11-02
43. Takahiro Omori         Emory, TX               10  31-09   68
Day 1: 5   23-12     Day 2: 5   07-13
44. Marty Robinson         Lyman, SC               10  31-09   67
Day 1: 5   14-07     Day 2: 5   17-02
45. Jacob Powroznik        North Prince George, VA 10  31-09   66
Day 1: 5   15-00     Day 2: 5   16-09
46. Fletcher Shryock       Dennison, OH            10  31-07   65
Day 1: 5   15-12     Day 2: 5   15-11
47. Mark Daniels Jr.       Tuskegee, AL            10  31-00   64
Day 1: 5   15-04     Day 2: 5   15-12
48. John Crews Jr          Salem, VA               10  30-13   63
Day 1: 5   17-03     Day 2: 5   13-10
49. Edwin Evers            Talala, OK              10  30-13   62
Day 1: 5   14-02     Day 2: 5   16-11
50. Chris Zaldain          Laughlin, NV            10  30-06   61
Day 1: 5   15-07     Day 2: 5   14-15
51. Russ Lane              Prattville, AL          10  30-03   60
Day 1: 5   12-15     Day 2: 5   17-04
52. Brandon Card           Knoxville, TN           10  30-02   59
Day 1: 5   17-07     Day 2: 5   12-11
53. Bill Lowen             Brookville, IN          10  30-02   58
Day 1: 5   13-03     Day 2: 5   16-15
54. Skylar Hamilton        Dandridge, TN           10  30-01   57
Day 1: 5   14-11     Day 2: 5   15-06
55. David Walker           Sevierville, TN         10  30-01   56
Day 1: 5   15-04     Day 2: 5   14-13
56. Brandon Palaniuk       Hayden, ID               9  30-00   55
Day 1: 5   16-15     Day 2: 4   13-01
57. Andy Montgomery        Blacksburg, SC          10  29-07   54
Day 1: 5   15-12     Day 2: 5   13-11
58. Alton Jones            Lorena, TX              10  29-06   53
Day 1: 5   16-03     Day 2: 5   13-03
59. Hunter Shryock         Newcomerstown, OH       10  29-03   52
Day 1: 5   15-07     Day 2: 5   13-12
60. Jonathon VanDam        Gobles, MI              10  29-02   51
Day 1: 5   15-11     Day 2: 5   13-07
61. Gerald Spohrer         Gonzales, LA            10  29-01   50
Day 1: 5   15-09     Day 2: 5   13-08
62. Greg Hackney           Gonzales, LA            10  29-00   49
Day 1: 5   15-07     Day 2: 5   13-09
63. Kelly Jordon           Flint, TX               10  28-15   48
Day 1: 5   12-05     Day 2: 5   16-10
64. Dustin Connell         Clanton, AL             10  28-15   47
Day 1: 5   14-13     Day 2: 5   14-02
65. Gary Klein             Mingus, TX              10  28-14   46
Day 1: 5   17-04     Day 2: 5   11-10
66. Boyd Duckett           Guntersville, AL         8  28-07   45
Day 1: 5   18-07     Day 2: 3   10-00
67. Skeet Reese            Auburn, CA              10  28-05   44
Day 1: 5   13-01     Day 2: 5   15-04
68. Micah Frazier          Newnan, GA              10  27-13   43
Day 1: 5   14-04     Day 2: 5   13-09
69. Bobby Lane Jr.         Lakeland, FL            10  27-12   42
Day 1: 5   11-13     Day 2: 5   15-15
70. Mike McClelland        Bentonville, AR         10  27-12   41
Day 1: 5   14-10     Day 2: 5   13-02
71. Matt Herren            Ashville, AL             9  27-10   40
Day 1: 5   18-02     Day 2: 4   09-08
72. Brandon Coulter        Knoxville, TN           10  27-10   39
Day 1: 5   12-00     Day 2: 5   15-10
73. Drew Benton            Panama City, FL          9  27-01   38
Day 1: 5   16-12     Day 2: 4   10-05
74. Wesley Strader         Spring City, TN         10  27-01   37
Day 1: 5   14-07     Day 2: 5   12-10
75. Chad Pipkens           Lansing, MI             10  26-13   36
Day 1: 5   13-08     Day 2: 5   13-05
76. John Murray            Spring City, TN         10  26-10   35
Day 1: 5   13-14     Day 2: 5   12-12
77. Ott DeFoe              Blaine, TN              10  26-07   34
Day 1: 5   14-04     Day 2: 5   12-03
78. Kelley Jaye            Dadeville, AL            9  26-05   33
Day 1: 4   09-04     Day 2: 5   17-01
79. Todd Faircloth         Jasper, TX              10  25-10   32
Day 1: 5   13-14     Day 2: 5   11-12
80. Steve Kennedy          Auburn, AL              10  25-09   31
Day 1: 5   12-08     Day 2: 5   13-01
81. Michael Iaconelli      Pitts Grove, NJ         10  25-07   30
Day 1: 5   12-13     Day 2: 5   12-10
82. Tyler Carriere         Youngsville, LA         10  25-04   29
Day 1: 5   13-14     Day 2: 5   11-06
83. Ray Hanselman Jr       Del Rio, TX              9  25-03   28
Day 1: 4   08-14     Day 2: 5   16-05
84. Chris Groh             Spring Grove, IL         7  25-02   27
Day 1: 5   20-04     Day 2: 2   04-14
85. Robbie Latuso          Gonzales, LA            10  24-09   26
Day 1: 5   12-07     Day 2: 5   12-02
86. Mark Menendez          Paducah, KY             10  24-04   25
Day 1: 5   14-11     Day 2: 5   09-09
87. Keith Combs            Huntington, TX          10  24-03   24
Day 1: 5   14-00     Day 2: 5   10-03
88. Chris Lane             Guntersville, AL        10  23-14   23
Day 1: 5   14-08     Day 2: 5   09-06
89. David Mullins          Mt Carmel, TN           10  23-08   22
Day 1: 5   11-09     Day 2: 5   11-15
90. Cliff Prince           Palatka, FL             10  23-07   21
Day 1: 5   11-11     Day 2: 5   11-12
91. Matt Lee               Guntersville, AL        10  23-03   20
Day 1: 5   11-02     Day 2: 5   12-01
92. Tim Horton             Muscle Shoals, AL       10  22-11   19
Day 1: 5   12-10     Day 2: 5   10-01
93. Jake Whitaker          Fairview, NC             8  22-09   18
Day 1: 5   15-01     Day 2: 3   07-08
94. Morizo Shimizu         Suita, Osaka JAPAN       8  21-15   17
Day 1: 5   13-09     Day 2: 3   08-06
95. Shaw Grigsby Jr.       Gainesville, FL         10  21-14   16
Day 1: 5   09-14     Day 2: 5   12-00
96. Jeff Kriet             Ardmore, OK             10  20-11   15
Day 1: 5   11-03     Day 2: 5   09-08
97. Jason Christie         Park Hill, OK            8  20-07   14
Day 1: 5   13-12     Day 2: 3   06-11
98. Terry Scroggins        San Mateo, FL           10  20-07   13
Day 1: 5   09-04     Day 2: 5   11-03
99. Bernie Schultz         Gainesville, FL          7  20-06   12
Day 1: 5   12-12     Day 2: 2   07-10
100. Casey Ashley           Donalds, SC             10  20-05   11
Day 1: 5   11-13     Day 2: 5   08-08
101. Randy Sullivan         Breckenridge, TX         7  20-00   10
Day 1: 4   11-12     Day 2: 3   08-04
102. Shin Fukae             Palestine TX JAPAN       9  19-12    9
Day 1: 5   11-14     Day 2: 4   07-14
103. Rick Morris            Lake Gaston, VA          9  19-09    8
Day 1: 5   12-14     Day 2: 4   06-11
104. Jason Williamson       Wagener, SC              7  17-13    7
Day 1: 2   05-08     Day 2: 5   12-05
105. David Fritts           Lexington, NC            6  17-08    6
Day 1: 5   15-00     Day 2: 1   02-08
106. Paul Elias             Laurel, MS               7  14-14    5
Day 1: 3   05-08     Day 2: 4   09-06
107. Darrell Ocamica        New Plymouth, ID         6  14-03    4
Day 1: 5   11-02     Day 2: 1   03-01
108. Rick Clunn             Ava, MO                  4  11-12    3
Day 1: 4   11-12     Day 2: 0   00-00
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1       102       531      1674-05
2        92       505      1507-09
———————————-
194      1036      3181-14